Biography of Alonso de Ojeda
Explorer; b. at Cuenca, Spain, about 1466; d. on the island of
Santo Domingo, about 1508. He came of an impoverished noble family,
but had the good fortune to start his career in the household of the
Dukes of Medina Sidonia. He early gained the patronage of Juan
Rodríguez de Fonseca, Bishop of Burgos and later Patriarch of the
Indies, who made it possible for Ojeda to accompany Columbus in his
second voyage to the New World. Ojeda distinguished himself there by
his daring in battle with the natives, towards whom, however, he was
unduly harsh and vindictive. He returned to Spain in 1496. After
three years he again journeyed to the New World with three vessels
on his own account, accompanied by the cosmographer Juan de La Cosa
and Amerigo Vespucci. In a little over three weeks he sighted the
mainland near the mouth of the Orinoco, and after landing on
Trinidad and at other places, discovered a harbour which he called
Venezuela (little Venice), from its resemblance to the bay of
Venice. After some further exploration, he made his way to the
island of Hispaniola, where he was not received cordially, because
it was thought that he was infringing upon the exploring privileges
of Columbus. On his return to Spain in 1500, he took with him many
captives whom he sold as slaves. Having still influential friends at
home, he was able to fit out a new expedition, which left Cadiz in
1502 and made a landing on the American continent at a place which
he named Santa Cruz. There he established a colony which did not
last long because of the improvidence of his companions and their
extreme cruelty towards the Indians. Chafing under his leadership,
these companions turned against him and sent him back a prisoner to
Spain, accusing him of having appropriated the royal revenues. He
was tried and sentenced to pay a heavy fine. Upon his appeal,
however, he was acquitted of all culpability, but was now reduced to
poverty.
In some way or other he made his way back to Hispaniola, where his
former associate Cosa also was. There he conceived the idea of
establishing colonies on the mainland between Cabo de Vela and the
Golfo de Uraba, and after some time spent in petitioning the
Government, finally the two comrades obtained the necessary
permission. He went back to Spain and organized his third and last
expedition, only after great effort. Among the persons who embarked
in his four vessels was Pizarro, the future conqueror of Peru.
Cortes, who was later to dominate Mexico, would have been among the
soldiers of fortune engaged in this adventure, had not a sudden
illness prevented him from sailing. When he reached his destination,
Ojeda found the natives very hostile; they attacked his force and
slew every man except Ojeda and one other. The two escaped to the
shore, where they were succoured by those whom he had left in charge
of the ships. Not yet despairing, he founded a new colony at San
Sebastian. It soon became necessary for him to proceed to Hispaniola
to obtain supplies for the settlement, in charge of which he left
Pizarro. He was shipwrecked on the way, and only after suffering
great privations did he finally reach Santo Domingo, where he died.
Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913
Back to: American Biographies
